Sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator, and a refrigerator having the same

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator, and a refrigerator including the same. The sealing structure includes a refrigerating chamber inner case having a bent, angled or curved portion and a protrusion at one end; a freezer inner case having a bent, angled or curved portion and a protrusion at one end; a central wall which partitions the refrigerating chamber and freezer inner cases; a partition plate having bent, angled or curved portions at sides and/or a front surface thereof, seating grooves configured to receive the protrusions, and flanges at ends and/or a rear surface thereof, at or on a front surface of the central wall; a heat radiating pipe between the refrigerating chamber inner case and the freezer inner case; and a first supporting member on or in the bent, angled or curved portion of the refrigerating chamber inner case.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0141924, filed on Nov. 21, 2013, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a sealing structure of a central wall for a refrigerator and a refrigerator having the same, and more particularly, to a sealing structure of a central wall for a refrigerator and a refrigerator having the same, capable of maintaining an assembly clearance of the central wall, using a first supporting member on or in a bent, angled or curved portion of a refrigerating chamber inner case and/or a second supporting member on or in a bent, angled or curved portion of a freezer inner case, even though a thickness of the refrigerating chamber inner case or the freezer inner case is reduced in order to reduce material costs when foam molding the refrigerator.

BACKGROUND

In general, a refrigerator refers to an apparatus that preserves food in a cool state or in a frozen state for a long period of time by cooling air in the refrigerator using a refrigeration cycle. The refrigerator may avoid or delay spoiling food stored therein.

In recent years, high-grade refrigerators have included a side by side type refrigerator and a French type refrigerator. The side by side type refrigerator and the French type refrigerator have improved efficiency in loading food, convenience, and aesthetic attraction.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a side by side type refrigerator 1 in the related art. As illustrated in FIG. 1, in the side by side type refrigerator 1, spaces for receiving a refrigerating chamber 4 and a freezer 5 are provided in a main body 2, and the refrigerating chamber 4 and the freezer 5 are divided and partitioned by a central wall 6. A cabinet 3 forms an outermost side or surface of the refrigerator, and is generally made of metal and/or plastic.

A refrigerating chamber door 7 is on a front surface of the refrigerating chamber 4, and a freezer door 8 is on a front surface of the freezer 5.

Although not illustrated in the drawings, mechanical devices including a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and the like, which perform a refrigeration cycle, are at a rear side of the main body. A gasket is at an end or on a periphery of the refrigerating chamber door 7 and/or the freezer door 8 in order to block cold air from leaking to the outside.

The refrigerating chamber 4 and the freezer 5 have a predetermined thickness, and are formed by foam molding method or the like. In this case, in order to minimize material costs and increase spaces for storing food in the refrigerating chamber 4 and the freezer 5, thicknesses of the refrigerating chamber 4 and the freezer 5 need to be reduced and molded.

However, when the thicknesses of the refrigerating chamber 4 and the freezer 5 are equal to or smaller than a predetermined thickness, the refrigerating chamber inner case and the freezer inner case may be bent, angled or curved at the time molding (e.g., foam molding) the refrigerating chamber 4 and the freezer 5.

When the inner cases of the refrigerating chamber 4 and the freezer 5 are bent, angled or curved, the assembly clearance of the central wall 6 may be widened, and dew, which causes inconvenience to the user, may form on the central wall 6 because of the widened assembly clearance. As a result, the freezer door 8 may not easily open because dew on the freezer door 8 or freezer door gasket may freeze on the central wall 6 by cold air in the freezer 5.

An example of a conventional side by side type refrigerator may be found in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0336423.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide a sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator, in which an assembly clearance of the central wall is formed and/or sealed using a first supporting member on or in a bent, angled or curved portion of a refrigerating chamber inner case, and/or a second supporting member on or in a bent, angled or curved portion of a freezer inner case, even though the thickness of the refrigerating chamber inner case and/or the freezer inner case is reduced to a predetermined thickness to reduce material costs when molding (e.g., foam molding) the inner case(s) of the refrigerator, thereby preventing dew from forming on the central wall, reducing manufacturing costs of the refrigerator, and maximizing utilization of the inner space of the refrigerator.

One or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide a sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator, including a refrigerating chamber inner case (which may form one inner side of a main body of the refrigerator) having a bent, angled or curved portion and a protrusion at one end; a freezer inner case (which may form another inner side of the main body of the refrigerator) having a bent, angled or curved portion and a protrusion at one end; a central wall between the refrigerating chamber inner case and the freezer inner case; a partition plate which has bent, angled or curved portions at opposed sides (e.g., of or on a front surface) of the partition plate, seating grooves configured to receive the protrusion of the refrigerating chamber inner case and the protrusion of the freezer inner case (e.g., into which the protrusions are inserted), and flanges at ends (e.g., of or on a rear surface) of the partition plate and/or at or on a front surface of the central wall; a heat radiating pipe between the refrigerating chamber inner case and the freezer inner case (and optionally between the partition plate and the inner cases); and a first supporting member on or in the bent, angled or curved portion of the refrigerating chamber inner case.

In one or more other exemplary embodiments of the sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator according to the present disclosure, the first supporting member may contact one side surface of the flange and side surfaces (and optionally a “bottom” surface) of the bent, angled or curved portion of the refrigerating chamber inner case. As a result, the first supporting member may be supported at four points.

Another exemplary embodiment of the sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator according to the present disclosure may further include a second supporting member in the bent, angled or curved portion of the freezer inner case.

In another exemplary embodiment of the sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator according to the present disclosure, the second supporting member may contact with one side and/or surface of the flange and side surfaces (and optionally a “bottom” surface) of the bent, angled or curved portion of the freezer inner case. As a result, the first supporting member may be supported at four points.

In another exemplary embodiment of the sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator according to the present disclosure, the first supporting member may extend up to about one-third of the way from an upper end to a lower end of the refrigerator.

In another exemplary embodiment of the sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator according to the present disclosure, the first supporting member may extend from an upper end to a lower end of the refrigerator.

In another exemplary embodiment of the sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator according to the present disclosure, the second supporting member may extend up to about one-third of the way from an upper end to a lower end of the refrigerator.

In another exemplary embodiment of the sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator according to the present disclosure, the second supporting member may extend from an upper end to a lower end of the refrigerator.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a-refrigerator including the aforementioned sealing structure for a central wall.

According to the sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator and the refrigerator having the same according to the present disclosure, the thickness of the refrigerating chamber inner case and/or the freezer inner case of the refrigerator is small, thereby reducing manufacturing costs of the refrigerator.

According to the sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator and the refrigerator having the same according to the present disclosure, the clearance of the central wall is maintained, thereby preventing dew from forming on the central wall.

According to the sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator and the refrigerator having the same according to the present disclosure, the thickness of the refrigerating chamber inner case and/or the freezer inner case is reduced, thereby maximizing the inner space for storing food.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a side by side type refrigerator in the related art.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a refrigerating chamber inner case and a freezer inner case of a side by side type refrigerator according to one or more exemplary embodiments of a sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the refrigerating chamber inner case and the freezer inner case of the refrigerator according to exemplary embodiment(s) of the sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged view of a part B illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a conceptual view illustrating a first supporting member and a second supporting member according to exemplary embodiment(s) of the sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates a conceptual view illustrating a first supporting member and a second supporting member according to another exemplary embodiment of the sealing structure of the central wall for a refrigerator of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First of all, in giving reference numerals to elements of each drawing, like reference numerals refer to like elements.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a refrigerating chamber inner case and a freezer inner case of a refrigerator according to one or more exemplary embodiments of a sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator of the present disclosure, and FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the refrigerating chamber inner case and the freezer inner case of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment(s) of the sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged view of a part B illustrated in FIG. 4.

A sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator and a refrigerator including the same according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. The sealing structure 100 for a central wall for a refrigerator according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may include a refrigerating chamber inner case 10, a freezer inner case 20, a central wall 30, a partition plate 40, a heat radiating pipe 50, and a first supporting member 60.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5, the refrigerating chamber inner case 10 forms one inner side or compartment of a main body 2 of the refrigerator. The refrigerating chamber inner case 10 may be at the right side of the main body 2 of the refrigerator, or at the left side of the main body 2. Alternatively, the refrigerating chamber inner case 10 may be at the lower side of the main body 2 of the refrigerator, or at the upper side of the main body 2.

A bent, angled or curved portion 11 of the refrigerating chamber inner case is at one end or side of the refrigerating chamber inner case 10 in order to utilize a space inside a refrigerating chamber. A protrusion 12 of the refrigerating chamber inner case 10 is integral with the bent, angled or curved portion 11 of the refrigerating chamber inner case 10 at the end or side of the refrigerating chamber inner case 10 (e.g., an internal side of the refrigerating chamber inner case 10, closest to the freezer 20).

The freezer inner case 20 forms another inner side or compartment of the main body 2 of the refrigerator. The freezer inner case 20 may be at the left side of the main body 2 of the refrigerator, or at the right side of the main body 2. Alternatively, the freezer inner case 20 may be at the upper side of the main body 2 of the refrigerator, or at the lower side of the main body 2.

A bent, angled or curved portion 21 of the freezer inner case is at one end or side of the freezer inner case 20 in order to utilize a space inside a freezer. A protrusion 22 of the freezer inner case is integral with the bent, angled or curved portion 21 of the freezer inner case at the end or side of the freezer inner case 20. The protrusions 12 and 22 may be configured to accommodate the heating pipe 50.

Thicknesses of the bent, angled or curved portion 11 of the refrigerating chamber inner case and the bent, angled or curved portion 21 of the freezer inner case are relatively small. The bent, angled or curved portions may be inappropriately bent or damaged at the time of molding (e.g., foam molding), thereby widening or increasing the assembly clearance of the central wall.

For example, the refrigerating chamber inner case 10 may have a thickness of from 0.6 to 1.0 units (e.g., mm) along the rear wall and/or side walls, and the bent, angled or curved portion 11 may have a thickness of from 2.0 to 2.75 units (e.g., mm) In one example, the refrigerating chamber inner case 10 has a thickness of 0.8 units along the rear wall, and the bent, angled or curved portion 11 has a thickness of 2.5 units. Similarly, the freezer inner case 20 may have a thickness of from 0.8 to 1.2 units (e.g., mm), and the bent, angled or curved portion 21 may have a thickness of from 2.5 to 3.5 units (e.g., mm) In one example, the freezer inner case 20 has a thickness of 1.0 units along the rear wall, and the bent, angled or curved portion 21 has a thickness of 2.8-3.0 units. In any case, the thickness of the freezer inner case 20 is greater than the thickness of the refrigerating chamber inner case 10, and the thickness of the bent, angled or curved portion 21 is greater than the thickness of the bent, angled or curved portion 11, typically by at least 10% or 20%.

The central wall 30 partitions, separates or divides the refrigerating chamber inner case 10 and the freezer inner case 20. The refrigerating space of the refrigerating chamber inner case 10 and the freezing space of the freezer inner case 20 may be formed or defined at least in part by the central wall 30, and cold air having a different temperature is supplied to each of the refrigerating space and the freezing space by mechanical devices mounted on a rear surface or a bottom surface of the main refrigerator body to perform the refrigeration cycle.

The partition plate 40 is installed at or on a front surface of the central wall 30. As illustrated in FIG. 5, bent, angled or curved portions 41 and 42 are at sides (e.g., opposed left and right sides) and/or a front surface of the partition plate 40. Alternatively, the partition plate 40 may have a substantially flat front surface, without the bent, angled or curved portions 41 and 42. Flanges 45 and 46 are at ends, sides (e.g., opposed left and right sides), and/or a rear surface of the partition plate 40. A seating groove, opening or space 43 into which the protrusion 12 of the refrigerating chamber inner case is inserted and coupled, and a seating groove, opening or space 44 into which the protrusion 22 of the freezer inner case is inserted and coupled, are formed by a space between the bent, angled or curved portions 41 and 42 and the flanges 45 and 46.

In the absence of the protrusions 12 and 22, the respective gaps between the bent, angled or curved portion 41 and 42 and the flanges 45 and 46 may be smaller than the height of the protrusions 12 and 22. Furthermore, with the first and second supporting members 60 and 61 in place in or on the bent, angled or curved portions 11 and 21, respectively, the angle between the front surface of the partition plate 40 and the flange 46 is smaller than the angle between the front surface of the partition plate 40 and the flange 45.

Although not illustrated in the drawings, the partition plate 40 may be fastened to the front surface portion of the central wall 30 by one or more fasteners such as a bolt and nut, a rivet, a screw, a key, or a pin.

The heat radiating pipe 50 is between the partition plate 40, the refrigerating chamber inner case 10, and the freezer inner case 20, and prevents dew from forming on the central wall 30 when the refrigerating chamber door or the freezer door is opened.

Although not illustrated in the drawings, the heat radiating pipe 50 may be installed on the partition plate 40 or the central wall 30, and/or at least partially in the partition plate 40, by a fastener such as a ring clamp or bracket, secured to the partition plate 40 or the central wall 30 by a bolt and nut, a rivet, a key, a screw or a pin.

The first supporting member 60 is installed in or on the bent, angled or curved portion 11 of the refrigerating chamber inner case.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a second supporting member 61 may be additionally installed in or on the bent, angled or curved portion 21 of the freezer inner case. The first and second supporting members 60 and 61 may each comprise a material having a relatively high or predetermined minimum stiffness, such as a polymer (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride [PVC], copolymers or blends thereof, a polycarbonate, etc.), having a rectangular, cylindrical or tubular shape (e.g., a square, rectangular, circular or disc-shaped cross-section). The first and second supporting members 60 and 61 may be solid or hollow.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the first supporting member 60 contacts one side surface of the portion 45, and side surfaces (e.g., including a “bottom” surface) of the bent, angled or curved portion 11 of the refrigerating chamber inner case. That is, since the first supporting member 60 is securely supported at four points, the refrigerating chamber inner case 10 may not be bent or damaged even though the thickness of the refrigerating chamber inner case 10 is reduced, and the assembly clearance of the central wall 30 is securely sealed, thereby preventing dew from forming, and reducing material costs.

In the same manner, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the second supporting member 61 contacts one side surface of the flange 46 of the partition plate, and side surfaces (including a “bottom” surface) of the bent, angled or curved portion 21 of the freezer inner case. That is, since the second supporting member 61 is securely supported at four points, the freezer inner case 20 may not be bent or damaged, even though the thickness of the freezer inner case 20 is reduced, and the assembly clearance of the central wall 30 is securely sealed, thereby preventing dew from forming, and reducing material costs.

FIG. 6 illustrates a conceptual view illustrating a first supporting member and a second supporting member according to an exemplary embodiment of the sealing structure of the present disclosure, and FIG. 7 illustrates a conceptual view illustrating a first supporting member and a second supporting member according to another exemplary embodiment of the sealing structure of the present disclosure.

In the related art, because the refrigerating chamber inner case 10 and the freezer inner case 20 are bent, angled or curved at an upper end portion of the refrigerator at the time of molding (e.g., foam molding), the assembly clearance of the central wall 30 may increase up to a point about one-third of the way from an upper end (e.g., the uppermost surface) to a lower end (e.g., the lowermost surface) of the refrigerator 1. As illustrated in FIG. 6, according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first supporting member 60 and/or the second supporting member 61 may extend up to a point about one-third of the way from the upper end (e.g., the uppermost surface) to the lower end (e.g., the lowermost surface) of the refrigerator 1. By doing so, manufacturing costs of the refrigerator may be minimized, and assembling the refrigerator may be easily performed, thereby improving productivity.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first supporting member 60 and/or the second supporting member 61 extend from the upper end (e.g., the uppermost surface) to the lower end (e.g., the lowermost surface) of the refrigerator 1. When the thickness of the refrigerating chamber inner case 10 and/or the freezer inner case 20 is significantly reduced, the assembly clearance of the central wall 30 may increase or widen along the height of the refrigerator because rigidity of the inner cases 10 and 20 may decrease (e.g., at the time of molding), and in this case, as necessary, the first supporting member 60 and/or the second supporting member 61 may extend from the upper end to the lower end of the refrigerator 1 in order to prevent the assembly clearance from increasing or widening.

The first supporting member 60 and/or the second supporting member 61 having an appropriate length is installed, thereby reducing manufacturing costs, preventing dew from forming on the central wall, and securely sealing the assembly clearance.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerating chamber inner case having a bent, angled or curved portion and a protrusion at one end or side; a freezer inner case having a bent, angled or curved portion and a protrusion that are formed at one end of the freezer inner case; a central wall which partitions the refrigerating chamber inner case and the freezer inner case; a partition plate which has bent, angled or curved portions at sides and/or a front surface thereof, seating grooves configured to receive the protrusion of the refrigerating chamber inner case and the protrusion of the freezer inner case, and flanges at ends and/or a rear surface of the partition plate; a heat radiating pipe between the refrigerating chamber inner case and the freezer inner case; and a first supporting member on or in the bent, angled or curved portion of the refrigerating chamber inner case.
 2. The sealing structure of claim 1, wherein the refrigerating chamber inner case forms one inner side or compartment of the refrigerator, and the freezer inner case forms another inner side or compartment of the refrigerator.
 3. The sealing structure of claim 1, wherein the partition plate is at or on a front surface of the central wall.
 4. The sealing structure of claim 1, wherein the first supporting member contacts one side surface of the flange, side surfaces of the bent, angled or curved portion of the refrigerating chamber inner case.
 5. The sealing structure of claim 4, wherein the first supporting member is supported at four points.
 6. The sealing structure of claim 4, further comprising a second supporting member in the bent, angled or curved portion of the freezer inner case.
 7. The sealing structure of claim 6, wherein the second supporting member contacts one side surface of the flange, and side surfaces of the bent, angled or curved portion of the freezer inner case.
 8. The sealing structure of claim 7, wherein the second supporting member is supported at four points.
 9. The sealing structure of claim 4, wherein the first supporting member extends up to about one-third of the way from an upper end to a lower end of the refrigerator.
 10. The sealing structure of claim 4, wherein the first supporting member extends from the upper end to the lower end of the refrigerator.
 11. The sealing structure of claim 7, wherein the second supporting member extends up to about one-third of the way from the upper end to the lower end of the refrigerator.
 12. The sealing structure of claim 7, wherein the second supporting member extends from the upper end to the lower end of the refrigerator.
 13. The sealing structure of claim 1, wherein the first supporting member comprises a material having a predetermined minimum stiffness.
 14. The sealing structure of claim 6, wherein the second supporting member comprises a material having a predetermined minimum stiffness.
 15. The sealing structure of claim 1, wherein the refrigerating chamber inner case has a thickness of from 0.6 to 1.0 units, the freezer inner case has a thickness of from 0.8 to 1.2 units, the bent, angled or curved portion of the refrigerating chamber inner case has a thickness of from 2.0 to 2.75 units, the bent, angled or curved portion of the freezer inner case has a thickness of from 2.5 to 3.5 units, the thickness of the freezer inner case is greater than the thickness of the refrigerating chamber inner case, and the thickness of the bent, angled or curved portion of the freezer inner case is greater than the thickness of the bent, angled or curved portion of the refrigerating chamber inner case.
 16. A refrigerator comprising the sealing structure as set forth in claim
 1. 17. The refrigerator of claim 16, comprising a side by side type refrigerator.
 18. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the bent, angled or curved portion of the refrigerating chamber inner case has a thickness of from 2.0 to 2.75 units, the bent, angled or curved portion of the freezer inner case has a thickness of from 2.5 to 3.5 units, and the thickness of the bent, angled or curved portion of the freezer inner case is greater than the thickness of the bent, angled or curved portion of the refrigerating chamber inner case.
 19. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the refrigerating chamber inner case has a thickness of from 0.6 to 1.0, the freezer inner case has a thickness of from 0.8 to 1.2 units, and the thickness of the freezer inner case is greater than the thickness of the refrigerating chamber inner case. 